Advancing Gender Perspectives in the Biological Weapons Convention

On 30 June 2021, The International Gender Champions Disarmament Impact Group and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit held an interactive online event “Advancing Gender Perspectives in the Biological Weapons Convention”.
The discussion addressed recent initiatives to improve women’s meaningful participation in the BWC, as well as research on sex-specific and gendered impacts of biological weapons. Panelists reflected on how gender perspectives are already being incorporated into BWC discussions and, in view of the forthcoming Ninth BWC Review Conference, how they can be further promoted and strengthened in future BWC work programmes. A new factsheet by the by the Disarmament Impact Group on “Gender and Biological Weapons” was also launched via the event.

Opening Remarks
•Dr. Cleopa K. Mailu, Chairperson of the BWC Meeting of States Parties, and Permanent
Representative of Kenya to the UN in Geneva.
•Daniel Feakes, Chief, Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit.

Panelists
•Ngoc Phuong van der Blij, Political Affairs Officer, Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit.
•Grisselle Rodriguez, Chairperson of the BWC Meeting of Experts on Institutional Strengthening of the Convention, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Panama to the UN in Geneva.
•Stephanie Norlock, Program Officer, International Federation of Biosafety Associations.

Moderator
•Michael Gaffey, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the UN in Geneva and Co-Chair of the Disarmament Impact Group.